JP2714084B2 - Sheet post-processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is applied to a sheet post-processing apparatus, specifically, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, and a laser beam printer. Classify discharged sheets
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing device such as a sorter for storing.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in order to increase the total number of sheets that can be stored by a sheet post-processing apparatus having a plurality of sheet storage units, the storage units that can store the largest number of sheets are sequentially selected from the sheet storage units, and the selected sheet storage units can be stored. 2. Description of the Related Art A sheet post-processing operation for continuously storing sheets up to the number of sheets is known.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus may be curled due to heat for fixing an image, characteristics of a roller, and the like. Therefore, in the case where the storing operation is continuously performed in the selected sheet storing unit, the heat radiation time of the sheet is shorter than that in the case where the sheet storing unit is switched for each sheet storing, and the curl correction effect is reduced. Thus, the number of sheets that can be stored in each sheet storage unit is reduced.

In the above-described conventional example, when the storing operation is continuously performed in the selected sheet storing unit, the total number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet post-processing apparatus is equal to the number of sheet storing units. This is less than when the sheet storage unit is switched for each storage. That is, in order to increase the number of sheets that can be stored in the entire sheet post-processing apparatus without increasing the number of sheet storage units, it is necessary to lengthen the heat radiation time of the sheet in order to increase the curl correction effect.
For that purpose, it is necessary to reduce the sheet processing efficiency of the image forming apparatus, and as the quantitative and temporal processing efficiency of the image forming apparatus increases, inconvenience has occurred.

[Means (and action) for solving the problem]

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and specifically, when performing a sheet storing operation exceeding the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet storing unit that can store the maximum number of sheets, After the sheet is stored, the number of sheets that can be stored in each sheet storage section is increased by performing control to switch the sheet storage section for each sheet storage, and consequently without increasing the number of sheet storage sections in the sheet post-processing device, and This is to increase the number of sheets that can be processed by the entire sheet post-processing apparatus without lowering the sheet processing efficiency of the image forming apparatus.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an embodiment of a copying apparatus to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a copying apparatus main body; 200, a pedestal having a double-side processing function for turning over a recording medium (paper) during double-sided recording and a multiplex recording function for performing multiple recordings on the same recording medium; Is a recirculating document feeder (hereinafter referred to as RDF) for automatically feeding documents, and 400 is a sorter (hereinafter referred to as a sorter) for storing recorded paper in a plurality of bins.
The devices 0 to 400 can be freely combined and used for the main body 100.

A. Main unit (100) In the main unit 100, 101 is a platen glass on which an original is placed, 103 is an illumination lamp (exposure lamp) for illuminating the original, 1
Reference numerals 05, 107 and 109 denote scanning reflection mirrors (scanning mirrors) for polarizing the optical path of the reflected light of the original, 111 denotes a lens having focusing and zooming functions, and 113 denotes a fourth reflection mirror (scanning mirror) for changing the optical path. . Reference numeral 115 denotes an optical system motor that drives the optical system, and 117, 119, and 121 denote sensors.

131 is a photosensitive drum, 133 is a main motor for driving the photosensitive drum 131, 135 is a high-pressure unit, 137 is a blank exposure unit, 139 is a developing unit, 140 is a developing roller, 141 is a transfer charger, 143 is a separation charger, and 145 is a cleaning device.

151 is an upper cassette, 153 is a lower cassette, 171 is a manual paper feed port, 155 and 157 are paper feed rollers, and 159 is a registration roller. Reference numeral 161 denotes a conveyance belt for conveying the recording paper on which the image has been recorded to the fixing side; 163, a fixing device for fixing the conveyed recording paper by thermocompression; and 167, a sensor used for double-sided recording.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 131 is made of a photoconductor and a seamless photosensitive member using a conductor. The drum 131 is rotatably supported by a shaft, and operates in response to pressing of a copy start key described later. The rotation is started by the motor 133 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Next, when the predetermined rotation control and potential control processing (preprocessing) of the drum 131 is completed, the original placed on the original platen glass 101 is illuminated by the illumination lamp 103 integrated with the first scanning mirror 105, The reflected light of the original is supplied to a first scanning mirror 105, a second scanning mirror 107, a third scanning mirror 109, a lens 111, and a fourth scanning mirror 11
The image is formed on the drum 131 via 3.

The drum 131 is corona-charged by the high-pressure unit 135. Thereafter, the image (original image) irradiated by the illumination lamp 103 is subjected to slit exposure, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum 131 by a known Carlson method.

Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 131 is developed by the developing roller 140 of the developing device 139 and visualized as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto transfer paper by the transfer charger 141 as described later. .

That is, the upper cassette 151 or the lower cassette 153
The transfer paper in the printer or the transfer paper set in the manual paper feed port 171 is fed into the main unit by the feed rollers 155 or 157, and is sent to the photosensitive drum 131 at an accurate timing by the registration roller 159, and the latent image is transferred. The leading edge of the image coincides with the leading edge of the transfer paper. Thereafter, when the transfer paper passes between the transfer charger 141 and the drum 131, the drum 1
The toner image on 31 is transferred onto the transfer paper. After completion of the transfer, the transfer paper is decomposed from the drum 131 by the separation charger 143, guided to the fixing device 163 by the conveyor belt 161 and fixed by pressure and heat, and then discharged out of the main body 100 by the discharge roller 165. Is done.

After the transfer, the drum 131 continues to rotate, and the surface thereof is cleaned by a cleaning device 145 including a cleaning roller and an elastic blade.

B. Pedestal (200) The pedestal 200 is detachable from the main body 100, and has a deck 201 and a double-sided copy intermediate tray 203 capable of storing 2,000 sheets of transfer paper. Also, its 2,0
The lifter 205 of the deck 201 capable of storing 00 sheets
It rises according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always comes into contact with 7.

Also, reference numeral 211 denotes a discharge flapper for switching the path between the double-side recording side or multiple recording side and the discharge side path, 213 and 215 the conveyance paths of the conveyance belt, and 217 an intermediate tray weight for holding the transfer paper. 211, and transport paths 213,215
The transfer paper that has passed through is turned over, and an intermediate tray for duplex copying
Stored in 203. Reference numeral 219 denotes a multiplex flapper for switching the path between double-sided recording and multiplex recording. The flapper 219 is disposed between the conveyance paths 213 and 215 and guides the transfer paper to the multiplex recording conveyance path 221 by rotating upward. A multi-discharge sensor 223 detects the end of the transfer paper passing through the multi-flapper 219. Reference numeral 225 denotes a paper feed roller for feeding the transfer paper to the drum 131 through the path 227. Reference numeral 229 denotes a discharge roller for discharging the transfer paper outside the apparatus.

At the time of double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiplexed copying), first, the discharge flapper 211 of the main body 100 is raised upward, and the copied transfer paper is stored in the intermediate tray 203 via the conveyance paths 213 and 215 of the pedestal 200. I do. At this time, the multiple flapper 219 is lowered during double-sided recording, and the multiple flapper 219 is raised during multiple recording. The intermediate tray 203 can store, for example, up to 99 copy sheets. The transfer paper stored in the intermediate tray 203 is pressed by the intermediate tray weight 217.

At the time of the next backside recording or multiplex recording, the transfer paper stored in the intermediate tray 203 is transferred from the bottom of the main body 100 via the path 227 by the action of the sheet feeding roller 225 and the weight 217 one by one from below. It is guided to the roller 159.

C. RDF (Circulating Document Feeding Device) (300) In the RDF 300, reference numeral 301 denotes a stacking tray for setting a document bundle 302. First, when a single-sided document is used, a half-moon roller 304 and a separation roller 303 start from the bottom of the document bundle. The sheet is separated one by one, conveyed to the exposure position of the platen glass 101 by the conveying roller 305 and the entire belt 306 via the paths I to II, stopped, and the copying operation is started. After the copying is completed, the sheet is sent to the path V by the large conveying roller 307 via the path III, and is returned to the upper surface of the original bundle 302 again by the sheet discharging roller 308. Reference numeral 309 denotes a recycle lever for detecting one cycle of the document. The recycle lever is placed on the upper portion of the document bundle at the start of document feeding, the documents are sequentially fed, and the trailing edge of the final document drops by its own weight when it passes through the recycle lever 309. Thus, one cycle of the document is detected.

Next, when a two-sided original is used, the original is once guided from paths I and II to III as described above, and the leading end of the original is guided to path IV by switching the rotatable switching flapper 310. Through the entire belt 306 with the platen glass 101
Stop after transporting up. In other words, the document is reversed by the route of the paths III to IV to II by the large conveying roller 307.

By transporting the document bundle 302 one by one through the paths I to II to III to IV to VI until the recycle lever 309 detects the circulation, the number of documents can be counted.

D. Sorter The sorter (400) has a tray of 25 bins, and stacks and sorts recorded paper. Sorter operation modes include non-sorter mode, sort mode, and collate mode.
When the copy start key 605 of the display / operation unit 600 of the copying apparatus 100 is pressed, the sorter operates based on the operation mode selected before.

1. Non-sort mode In the non-sort mode, the bin shift motor does not operate and the bin shift is not performed after the sort storage starts. Therefore, the copied sheets are sequentially discharged from the paper discharge rollers 229 of the main body, passed through the non-sheet discharge rollers 407, and discharged as they are to the tray 418 as the first sheet storage means and stacked.

2. Sort mode In the sort mode, when the uppermost bin is higher than the sort discharge roller 405, the bin moving motor 420 is operated, and the uppermost bin is lower than the sort discharge roller 405. Move the bin to the position and stop it (this position is called the sort home position). Then, the copied sheet is discharged from the paper discharge roller 22 of the main body.
It is discharged sequentially from 9 and enters the transport roller 401 of the sorter and passes.
The sheet is discharged from a discharge roller 405 to each bin 411 serving as a second sheet storage unit via a 403. Each time a sheet is discharged to each bin, the bin is raised or lowered by the bin shift motor 420 to perform collation.

3. Group Mode In the collating operation in the group mode, the bin moving motor 420 is operated to move the bin to the sort home position, as in the sort mode. The copied sheet is sequentially discharged from the paper discharge rollers 229 of the main body, enters the sorter transport roller 401, and is discharged to each bin 411 from the discharge roller 405 via the path 403. Each time the document changes, the bin is raised or lowered by the bin shift motor 420 to perform collation.

4.Stack mode In the stack mode, this is an operation mode when the number of sheets allowed to be stacked is larger than the preset number of sheets allowed to be stacked.The stack sheet operates in the same way as the non-sort operation up to the number of sheets allowed to be stacked. It operates in a manner similar to the sort operation.

E. Sorter Control Device (500) FIG. 2 shows an example of a circuit configuration of the sorter control device 500 of the present embodiment shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, a central processing unit (CPU) 501,
A control device including a read-only memory (ROM) 503, a random access memory (RAM) 505, an input port 507, an output port 509, and the like is provided. The ROM 503 stores a control program, and the RAM 505 stores input data and work data. The data is stored, and the non-sort path sensor S
Each sensor and switch such as 1 are connected, and output port 509
Is connected to a load such as the transfer motor 409, and the CPU
501 controls each unit connected via the bus according to a control program stored in the ROM 503. Further, the CPU 501 has a serial interface, and performs serial communication with, for example, a CPU of a copying machine body described later, and controls each unit by a signal from the copying machine body.

F. Main Body Control Device (800) FIG. 3 shows an example of a circuit configuration of the main body control device 800 of the embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 801 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) for performing arithmetic control for executing the present invention. 8
03 is a read-only memory (ROM).
It controls each component device connected via the bus according to the control procedure stored in the OM. Reference numeral 805 denotes a random access memory (RAM) which is a main storage device used for storing input data, a work storage area, and the like.

Reference numeral 807 denotes an interface (I / O) for outputting a CPU 801 control signal to a load such as the main motor 133, and 809 denotes an image sensor 121.
Reference numeral 811 denotes an interface for input / output control of the key group 600 and the display group 700 by inputting an input signal such as an input signal to the CPU 801. These interfaces 807, 809, 811 are, for example, NEC input / output circuit ports μPD82.
Use 55.

The display group 700 is each display, such as LED and LC.
I'm using D. The key group 600 is each key, and the CPU 8
01 indicates which key has been pressed by the well-known key matrix.

Then, along the flow shown in FIGS. 4 to 8,
The operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, when a copy start key 605 of the copying machine body is pressed to start a copying operation,
A sorter start signal is sent from the control microcomputer 801 of the copying machine body by a serial signal. Sorter 400 waits for this signal (Step 101), and upon receiving a sorter start signal, proceeds to Step 103. In Step 103, the operation mode during one job until the sorter start signal is no longer present is determined, and the mode data is stored in the RAM 305.

Next, each unit is operated based on the determined copy mode. That is, in Step 103, it is determined whether or not sorting is performed, and if so, the process proceeds to the sorting mode (Step 105).
If it is determined in Step 103 that the mode is not the sort mode, the process proceeds to Step 107, and it is determined whether the mode is a group.
If it is a group, go to group mode (Step 109)
If it is not a group, go to Step111. In Step 111, it is determined whether or not the number of sheets is equal to or smaller than the number of sheets allowed to be stacked on the non-sort tray. If the number exceeds the permitted number in Step 111, the process proceeds to the stack mode (Step 115) for storing the bins in the bin 411 (Step 617 in FIG. 8). Then, after the operation in any of the above modes is completed, the program proceeds to the first Step 101 as the end of one job.

Next, the operation in the sort mode will be described with reference to FIG.

It is determined whether there is a bin initial signal indicating whether or not to return the bin unit 411 from the copier body to the home position (Step 201).
Is moved to the home position (Step 203). Next, the flipper solenoid 416 is turned off to select the sort conveyance path 403 (Step 205), and the program proceeds to Step 207.
In Step 207, it is determined whether or not there is a sorter start signal from the copying machine body. If there is a sorter start signal, the job is assumed to be continued, and the process proceeds to Step 209. If there is no sorter start signal, one job ends and the process returns to the main routine. In Step 209, it is determined whether or not there is a paper discharge signal from the copying machine main body. If there is a paper discharge signal, the process proceeds to Step 211. If there is no discharge signal, the flow returns to Step 207 to check the sorter start signal again. In Step 211, a transport operation for discharging the sheet into the bin 411 is performed, and after the transport operation is completed, it is determined whether there is a shift direction inversion signal from the main body (Step 21).
3) If yes, reverse the shift direction. If there is no shift direction inversion signal, the bin unit drive motor 420 is turned on to shift one bin (Step 217), and the program proceeds to Step 207.

Next, the operation in the group mode will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not there is a bin initial signal from the copying machine main body (Step 401), and if there is, the bin unit 9 is moved to the home position (Step 403).

Next, the process proceeds to Step 407, where it is determined whether a sorter start signal from the copying machine main body is present. If there is a sorter start signal, it is determined that the job is continued, and the process proceeds to Step 409. If there is no sorter start signal, it returns to the main routine as one job end. In Step 409, it is determined whether or not there is a paper discharge signal. If there is a paper discharge signal, the process proceeds to Step 411.
If there is no discharge signal, the process returns to Step 407 again. In Step 411, a transport operation for transporting the sheet into the bin 411 is performed (Step 41).
1) After the transfer operation is completed, the process proceeds to Step 413. In step 413, it is determined whether or not there is a bin shift signal from the copying machine main body.
Is shifted by one bin (Step 415). The program returns to Step 407.

Next, the operation in the non-sort mode will be described with reference to FIG.

In the non-sort mode, the sheet is discharged onto the bin cover 418, so that the bin unit 411 is moved to the lowest position as the home position (Step 501).
Flats solenoid 416 to eject sheets from 07
Is turned on (Step 502).

Next, it is determined whether there is a sorter start signal (Step 50).
3). If there is a sorter start signal, proceed to Step 504,
It is determined whether or not there is a paper discharge signal from the copying machine main body, and if there is a paper discharge signal, a conveyance operation (Step 505) for discharging the sheet is performed, and then the process returns to Step 503. If there is no output signal, Step 503
Return to

If it is determined in step 503 that there is no sorter start signal, the process proceeds to step 506 as the end of one job, the flat solenoid is turned off, and the program returns to the main routine.

In the stack mode, as shown in FIG.
At 9, the bin unit is moved to the sort home position (Step 619). Next, the flat solenoid is turned off to select the sort conveyance path 403 (Step 621). Then Ste
Proceed to p623 to determine the presence or absence of a sorter start signal, and if there is a sorter start signal, proceed to Step 625;
Proceed to tep635 and return to the main routine. In Step 625, it is determined whether or not there is a paper output signal.
The transport operation of Step 627 is performed. If there is no paper output signal, S
Return to tep623. When the transfer operation of Step 627 is completed, Step 629
To determine whether or not the number of shifts, which is a counter provided on the RAM, has exceeded a set number (for example, the number of bins). At this time, if not exceeded, one bin shift is performed, and the number of shifts is counted (Step 631, Step 63).
3). On the other hand, when the number of shifts is exceeded in Step 629, the bin shift direction is reversed to clear the above-mentioned number of shifts (Step 637, Step 639). Thereafter, the flow returns to Step 623.

By storing copy papers of the same original in a plurality of bins as described above, it is possible to copy more than the number of sheets that can be stored in the non-sort tray in one job. It can be significantly increased.

 Next, the transport operation will be described with reference to FIG.

In the transport operation, when the sorter receives a sheet from the copying machine main body, the transport motor is turned on and the transport speed of the sorter is synchronized with the process speed of the copying machine main body (Step 30).
1). Next, it is determined whether the flat solenoid 416 is turned on, that is, whether the sort discharge port 405 or the non-sort discharge port 407 is selected (Step 302). If the flat discharge solenoid 416 is turned on, the non-sort discharge is performed. Exit 4
Since 07 is selected, the process proceeds to Step 303 where the non-sort path sensor S1 detects, and to Step 304 where the sort discharge port 405 is selected if the flat path solenoid 416 is off because the sort discharge port 405 is selected. I do. In Step 303 and Step 304, respectively, wait until the non-sort path sensor S1 and the sort path sensor S2 are turned on.
Proceed to In Step 305, a counter for measuring a point where the conveyance motor 409 is controlled at the time of discharge is set. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the counter set in Step 305 has finished counting (Step 306). When the counter is up, the operation ends (Step 307).

[Other embodiments]

Further, as a method of shifting the bin, the shift is repeated every time one sheet is stored, and when the bin reaches the upper limit or the lower limit, the shift direction is reversed and stored.
It is not limited to this. For example, in the stack mode, the expected number of sheets to be discharged from the copying machine body is checked in advance, the number of required bins is calculated based on the number of sheets that can be stored per bin, and the shift direction is changed for each number of bins. It may be loaded upside down. For example, if the scheduled number of sheets
Assuming 500 sheets, 200 sheets of non-sort bins can be stored,
Assuming that the number of sheets that can be stored per bin is 50 (500-20
0) ÷ 50 = 6, and the bins are stored with the shift direction reversed by six bins. In the above-described manner, the sheet storage is not distributed to all the bins of the sorter, but is stored in a lump in one bin, so that there is an advantage that the operator can easily take out the sheet.

When the number of sheets to be discharged from the main unit exceeds the maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the sorter, the series of storing operations of the present invention are shifted in the reverse direction at the time of the last storing so that the storing port becomes a non-sort bin when the maximum number of sheets is reached. You may make it do.
For example, if the estimated number of sheets to be discharged is 1400, the number of non-sort bins that can be stored is 200, the number of bins is 50, and the number of bins is 20, 200 + 50 x 20 = 1200 sheets per bin and the storage per bin is reversed at the 50th If sorting is performed and 1201 and subsequent sheets are stored in the non-sort bin, even if the maximum capacity of the non-sort bin is exceeded, the non-sort bin is an open bin, so 1201 to 1400 sheets are loaded first. There is a merit that the storage operation can be continued even if the sorter exceeds the maximum number of sheets that can be stored because the trouble such as a jam is relatively unlikely to occur even when the sheets are stacked on 200 sheets.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when performing a sheet storing operation exceeding the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet storage unit that can store the maximum number of sheets, every time the sheet is stored in the maximum sheet storage unit, The number of sheets that can be stored in each sheet storage unit is increased by performing control to switch the sheet storage unit, and consequently the sheet processing efficiency of the image forming apparatus can be improved without increasing the number of sheet storage units in the sheet post-processing apparatus. The number of sheets that can be processed by the entire sheet post-processing apparatus is increased without lowering.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the entire internal configuration of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a controller of the sorter of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the controller of the main body of the present embodiment. 4 to 9 are flow charts showing the operation procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. 411... Bin (second sheet storing means) 418... Tray (first sheet storing means) 416... Flat solenoid S ₁ ... Non-sort path sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-12576 (JP, A) JP-A-63-57471 (JP, A) JP-A-60-205466 (JP, A) 73267 (JP, U)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A first mode for continuously storing sheets in a plurality of sheet storage means; a first sheet storage means capable of storing a maximum number of sheets among the sheet storage means; Control means for switching between a plurality of second sheet storage means other than the possible sheet storage means for each sheet storage; second control means for switching; a counting means for counting the number of stored sheets; A sheet post-processing apparatus, comprising: a first mode and a means for selecting the second mode. 2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the sheet counting means determines that the number of stored sheets exceeds a predetermined number, the mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode. .